useless tie downs

[RobertN]

Why can't truck makers put real tie downs/hooks on trucks? I have a 2001 Dodge, and before that an '89 Ford F250, '80 F250, and '86 Chevy S10. NONE of those trucks have/had a useful tie down on them.

Now, all of them do/did have these little loops mounted in each corner of the bed, near the floor. How in the world do they expect you to securely tie down a load with those silly things? First, they sit too low in the bed to get at when you have a big load. Then, there's only two on each side; on a long bed truck you can not safely and securely tie down a sizable load. There should be accessible hooks every 12" on a bed. Hooks that is, that you can tie real knot's and hitches on...

I know hooks are available aftermarket. But, after spending big $$$ for a 3/4 ton truck, I reall expect to be able to get right to work with it!

I guess it's like trying to work on some parts of cars and trucks; the engineers obviously never spent any time out in the field with the things, or they would make them more serviceable...

 

[beenthere]

Maybe the reason is that if they put the tiedowns in as you would like, they are encouraging 'big' loads that bring about other warranty problems. As it is now, if you put a big load in, and something doesn't hold up, you cannot go to the mfg and say they obviously meant the truck to handle the big load because they provided the tiedowns. Our society has done a good job shooting themselves and us in the foot on many things like this. Also, a sue-happy society causes some of our problems, IMO.

Otherwise, it may just be another way to hold the cost down. You bought the truck(s) without the tiedowns, so apparently that wasn't an issue for you at that time. Maybe on the last minute deal, you should have said - "put the tiedowns in the bed, and I'll take it". I know, it is hard to think of everything as I have BTDT.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Best bet is after market tie downs. On our 98 F-150 they had the 4 tie downs hold the bedliner down which was nice because you could still get to them until we put a tool box on that truck but the new F-250 we bought has the tie downs holding the front of the box down and the back you have to remove rubber plugs from the bed liner so you can find the tie downs. Now that is a pain. We are getting a couple new ladder racks with the bed rails that you can position tie downs where ever you need them so that will help us out. At least they are putting some tie downs on the trucks, our 92 F-150 doesn't have any on it. Take care.

 

[Rowski]

I seen <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.bullaccessories.com/>these</A> displayed at a chevy and ford dealer. The ford dealer (actually the parts guy) says he "sells" a lot of them to the sales dept. Sometime they throw them in to sweeten up the deal. I don't have any for my 2001 2500HD Chevy but they look nice, the nicest I seem so far. I do agree that on a truck spending $25K to over $35K they would incude them or engineer them into the truck. I mean they do it for cup holders, radio controls in steering wheel, CD exchangers, places for door openers, sunglasses, etc.......... So where are the tie downs!

 

[RobertN]

I have friends that have these. They are nice when using cinch straps, if that's what the motorcycle straps are called? It's still leaves a short bed with only two tie points/side, and long beds with three tie points/side. And, it is more difficult to tie ropes off to loops than it is to a hook.

I remember Datsun and Toyota used to have hooks down the side of the bed, and I think Ford? did it for a while years ago. Nobody does it now though; I guess it's hard to mold in to the aero dynamic, smooth bedside finishes.

I've been working with a friend who has a F450 flatbed(Royal); it has hooks every foot. It makes it so much nicer when you're throwing ropes, making hitches, and tying knots.

 

[Rowski]

The tie dowms in the bed its self are nice. I do remember seeing them in Toyota. The problem with the stake hole tie downs is if the load is below the rails it kinda hard to tie it down. I just remebered that in my bed liner the are 3 or 4 places to lay a 2x6 across. The only problem is you need to carry the 2x6 with you and some (most) of the time it gets in the way, or you loose it. So were right back at those darn engineers /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif.

 

[Thomas]

On my S10 2000 LS I have tie down in each corner,and I wouldn't trust those tie down to darn much,nor those cheap fender wells.

Remeber those old 1961 etc.. Dodge Power Wagons..now that was a beast for sure.

 

[RobertN]

That's what I was thinking, the old Power Wagons! Beefy truck, made to work!

 

[looch]

We had one of those for sale at the garage I used to work at (pumping gas after school). It was my job to move it to the side of the building after closing time. This thing was so mean, it bit me. It was a stick and I was resting my hand on the shifter as I eased back and it popped out of gear - almost broke my wrist. What a beast.

 

[rdln]

You mean that you guys actually use a pick-up to haul stuff??/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Seriously, IMO If the bed is to have any tie downs the first place they should go is down low in the corners, and then if there is any money left over in the engineer's (heck they don't even change thier own oil) budget then along the sides as low as possible.

GM's only criteria for full size pick up bed boxes is that it can load a 4x8 sheet through the tailgate and close it after it is in.

You'll also notice on the datsun, chevy luv, ford courier, type trucks that those hooks are the first place rust starts.

 

[pennwalk]

The first new car I had was an '80 Datsun king cab. It had 3 chrome boat cleats along the outside of each side of the bed. That was the best I've used. The Toyota T100 I have now has loops in the inside corners. It works but it is not as good. Nissan has some good ideas.

Chris

 

[RobertN]

I would agree, to a point... It does make sense to tie from as low as possible for stability. But, When the bed is full, side to side, front to front, and maybe cab high, it's hard to tie off with silly little loops mounted in the low corners of the bed.

 

[yaouk]

Most new trucks in Australia are made 'cab-chassis'. A flat tray is fitted as part of the sale. Styleside trucks (or 'utes') are very much in the minority, which seems to be the opposite in the US.

Almost every rural person in Oz has a tray back ute because they are so much more functional and robust. No worries about rust, dents or scratches and much better load carrying. Floors are timber steel and even alloy for light duty vehicles. Of course, they are not quite as handsome as the metallic deep purple stepside with huge doh-nut tyres.